DOTHAN, Ala. — Two Dothan Police Department school resource officers are being credited with helping save the life of a 7-month-old baby who began choking Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 1, at Dothan High School.
According to Dothan High School Principal Brian Riviere, a grandmother was driving with her 7-month-old grandchild when the infant began choking on a piece of food.
The grandmother called 911 and told dispatchers she was about to pull into Dothan High School looking for help.
Dothan Police Department Cpl. Trent Adams and Cpl. Daniel Volkman, who serve as school resource officers at Dothan High School, responded immediately.
“All we heard on the school radio was ‘seven month old choking, front of the school, EMS is en route, and I’m starting CPR,’” Riviere said.
The officers went to the baby and began life-saving measures, including CPR, as Dothan Fire Rescue and EMS were responding.
“There was no hesitation. They went straight to that baby and began life-saving measures, including CPR,” Riviere said.
According to Riviere, Adams and Volkman worked quickly and calmly and were able to dislodge the food from the infant’s airway just before Dothan Fire Rescue and EMS arrived.
“Their actions very likely saved that baby’s life,” Riviere said.
Adams said there was a sense of relief when the officers saw the training they had received result in a successful outcome.
“It was a sigh of relief,” Adams said. “After all the hours of training and to see a good result come from that it makes me thankful for the police department for how much investment and training goes into that so we can do our job to the best of our ability.”
Adams also said having officers stationed at schools means trained law enforcement personnel can be nearby when an unexpected emergency happens.
“Our Chiefs plan is that Every school has a police officer so in times like this someone is there and capable to handle the job,” Adams said.
Riviere said Tuesday’s incident also carried another message for the community.
People driving past Dothan High School that afternoon may have seen police vehicles, Dothan Fire Rescue and EMS on campus without knowing why emergency crews were there.
“I am sure there were people who drove past Dothan High School this afternoon, saw police vehicles, Fire Rescue, and EMS on our campus and immediately thought, ‘What now?’ I understand that reaction. But today is also a powerful reminder that surface-level information can easily become misinformation when we don’t know the whole story,” Riviere said.
He said what appeared to be a police or emergency response at the school was actually two officers working to save an infant.
“What someone saw from the road may have looked like another problem at a high school. What was actually happening behind those emergency vehicles was something entirely different: two police officers were helping possibly save the life of a seven-month-old child,” Riviere said.
Riviere encouraged people to seek the full story before reaching conclusions based on what they see, hear secondhand or encounter on social media.
“There is almost always more to a story than what can be seen through a windshield, heard secondhand, or gathered from a social media post. Today is a good reminder for all of us to seek the full story before forming a conclusion or passing one along,” Riviere said.
For Riviere, the emergency also highlighted a part of law enforcement work that he believes does not always receive the same attention as complaints or negative encounters.
“We live in a time when we often hear about what is wrong. We hear the complaints. We hear when someone is unhappy with law enforcement or upset with the service they received. Those stories sometimes seem to travel much farther and faster than the stories about the men and women who quietly show up every single day and do their jobs with courage, compassion, and professionalism,” Riviere said.
Riviere said Adams and Volkman normally spend their days walking the halls of Dothan High School, talking with students, supporting teachers, attending school events and helping keep the campus safe. On Tuesday, those duties suddenly turned into a life-or-death emergency involving an infant.
“Today, I had the privilege of witnessing the other story. I watched two men who normally walk our hallways, talk with our students, support our teachers, attend our ballgames, and help keep our campus safe suddenly find themselves facing a life-or-death situation involving a seven-month-old child,” Riviere said.
“And when seconds mattered, they answered the call. I cannot imagine the fear that grandmother felt as she pulled onto our campus. But I also cannot help but think about how fortunate she was that Corporal Adams and Corporal Volkman were standing ready to help,” he said.
Riviere said the incident demonstrated that school resource officers can serve roles beyond providing security and enforcing laws on a school campus.
“Today reminded me that our SROs are so much more than officers assigned to a school. They become part of our family. They protect our children. They care for our people. And sometimes, when God places someone in their path who desperately needs them, they save a life,” Riviere said.
Riviere closed his message by publicly thanking both officers.
“As Principal of Dothan High School, I could not be more proud to have Corporal Trent Adams and Corporal Daniel Volkman serving alongside us. Gentlemen, there are simply not enough words to adequately say thank you,” Riviere said.
“Today, you didn’t just wear the badge. You showed all of us what that badge represents. Service. Courage. Compassion. Sacrifice. And above all else, you showed us what true heroism looks like.”
“We are proud of you, and we are incredibly grateful you are part of our Wolf family,” Riviere said.
Image Source – Dothan City School
